Preview – SHTF – Crawly Survival Cuisine

Are you dry heaving at the thought of eating a cricket? Well, the practice of eating bugs as part of a regular diet is said to be thousands of years old. The United Nations estimates that at least 2 billion people have insects as part of their traditional diets. There are nearly 2,000 species of insects that are eaten on a daily basis by almost every ethnic group on earth. The vast majority of these insects are caterpillars, followed by termites, crickets, bees, and ants.

“The negative (and mostly false) perception of insects as being disease-ridden and dirty has prevented a good number of cultures from taking advantage of a delicious, protein-packed food source,” says Julieta Ramos-Elorduy, one of the foremost authorities on edible insects and a professor at the Institute of Biology of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. As populations rise and food sources become scarcer, that misconception may fade as the practice and popularity of consuming insects will only increase around the world.

Travel to most any part of the globe, and you’ll discover just how varied the local diets can be. Crickets in Asia. Locusts in Mexico. Termites in Africa. Tarantulas in South America. The mopane caterpillar in Southern Africa and the eggs of the weaver ant in Southeast Asia are hailed as delicacies, along the lines of escargot and frog’s legs. A 2-pound wasp nest can fetch about $100 in Japan.

So if you’re ever in a SHTF scenario with low to no food supplies, consider catching a Jiminy Cricket of your own. You won’t be the first to chow down on this type of bug.

Paleo Diet Friendly Insects have great nutritional value, are generally low in carbohydrates, are high in fat and protein, and are easily raised at home or found bountifully in nature. According to Afton Halloran at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, “The nutritional value of insects is comparable to other meat sources, such as chicken, beef, pork, and fish. In many cases, protein levels are often higher in insects than other animal sources. The protein content of insects can range from 13 to 77 percent, depending on the species.” Bugs are a great source of energy. They’re high in vitamin B (niacin and thiamine), iron, and zinc, as well as essential fatty acids, such as linoleic acid (which helps wounds heal more quickly).

Under most every rock and in the crevice of virtually every fallen tree live hoards of insects, most all of which are perfectly safe to eat. However, it is a rule to avoid brightly colored insects, especially those that are red, yellow, or orange, as they are colored specifically to announce that they are not good eating. Stick to the natural-colored bugs — browns, greens, and blacks. You should generally avoid eating all insects which sting or bite, are very hairy or fuzzy, brightly colored, and any insects that give off a pungent odor. There are exceptions to these guidelines, which are elaborated on further in the list on the following pages. “Also avoid eating potentially disease-carrying insects, such as flies, mosquitoes, and ticks,” says Jeff Durham from TheSurvivalExpert.com.